Yarn tube driving means



15, 1967 H. H. RICHTER 3,335,971

YARN TUBE DRIVING MEANS Filed May 25, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HANS H. RICHTER ATTORNEYS Aug. 15, 1967 H. H.-RICHTER 3,335,971

YARN TUBE DRIVVING MEANS Filed May 25, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet, 2

INVENTOR. HANS H. HTER' F I G. 8

BY I M wfi wa ATTORNEYS Aug. 15, 1967 H. H RICHTER YARN TUBE DRIVING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 25, 1965 FIG9 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. HANS H RICHTER ATTORNEYS United grates Patent 3,335,971 YARN TUBE DRIVING MEANS Hans H. Richter, Cranston, R.I., assignor to Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.I., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 25, 1965, Ser. No. 458,696 11 Claims. (Cl. 242-465) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to textile machines for twisting and winding yarn and relates, more particularly, to a driving means for supporting a yarn tube on the spindle of a textile machine for rotation, especially at high speeds.

In the following specification and claims the term yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand materials, either textile or otherwise, and the designation package is intended to mean the product of a winding or twisting machine whatever its form.

With the advent of high speed textile machines such as ring twisters capable of operating at spindle speeds of 9000 r.p.m. and higher, the requirements for securing a yarn collecting tube on its driving spindle so that the tube is firmly held in a position concentric with the spindle blade have become increasingly important. For successful operation yarn-collecting tubes must be mounted concentrically on their spindles to prevent imbalance as yarn is wound thereon. Moreover, the connection between the driving spindle and the yarn-holding tube must be constant and unyielding as the tube is driven.

A variety of yarn tube driving means have been proposed. These conventional units have' generally proven inadequate in the range of increased speeds such as that mentioned above. This is usually because they have been incapable of maintaining the tubes in dynamic balance, a defect leading to pronounced vibration and failure of bearings and other elements of the spindle during pro longed operation. Also, this shortcoming leads to consequent destruction of the tubes, loss of production, and safety hazards to machine operators.

In an effort to overcome some of the foregoing faults it has been proposed in the past to provide yarn tube driving units having a plurality on constantly biased, radially arranged gripping shoes. These shoes customarily are urged outwardly by a heavy spring or the like to engage the tube and secure it on the spindle. While it is true that such units do contribute to maintaining the tubes securely on the spindle, nevertheless, it becomes a difficult and time-consuming task for the operator to donn the tubes against the spring force and, particularly, to dofif the tubes when wound with yarn. This is due to the significant restriction to movement of the tubes caused by the weight of the packages intensifying the gripping force of the shoes.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved driving unit for rotating a yarn tube supported on a spindle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a driving unit which will grip a yarn tube mechanically 3,335,971 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 nice Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a driving unit which may be positioned upon existing spindles for use therewith to rotate a yarn tube.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a driving unit for gripping and driving a yarn or bobbin tube carried on a spindle, said unit including a plurality of segments operated simultaneously, cooperatively with a sleeve having a high coefficient of friction to securely seize the bobbin and align it concentrically with the spindle.

Yet, a further object of the invention is to provide a driving connection having a minimum number of operating parts and which is quickly and easily operated, and durable and reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in par-t, become more apparent from a study of the following description and drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional textile spindle of a ring twister incorporating the present invention therewith to support a yarn tube thereon, the tube being shown partially in section to reveal the driving unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the driving unit of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines IVIV of FIG. 2 illustrating one of the gripping elements in its inoperative position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the gripping element in its operative position;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the driving unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a textile spindle provided with the driving unit of the instant invention, the unit being shown in its inoperative position, the bobbin being freely supported eccentrically to the axis of the spindle;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the gripping elements of the driving unit in their operative positions to seize the yarn collecting tube and position it concentrically with the spindle;

FIG. 9 is a View generally similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a modified form of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a View similar to FIG. 9 illustrating a further modified form of the present invention.

Briefly, the present invention affords an integral assembly comprising a main body member, a rotatable control ring contained within the body member, opposing end caps pressed into the body member, and a plurality of gripping elements movable in cooperative tracks or slots in the control ring and end caps for gripping the interior wall of a yarn tube or bobbin. The unit is secured to the blade of a textile spindle in a manner whereby the control ring is free to rotate about the axis of the blade. Centrifugal force developed by rotation of the spindle causes the elements to move outwardly and rotate the control ring. In turn, the control ring insures simultaneous movement of the elements outwardly to grip the tube. Due to this simultaneous movement, gripping force is applied equally to opposing portions of the tube thereby locating the tube concentric with the spindle and causing the tube and spindle to rotate together. When the spindle ceases rotation the force originally serving to bias the gripping elements against the tube is relieved and the tube can be removed readily off the spindle. A resilient sleeve is provided between the gripping elements and the tube. This sleeve, which has a high coefficient of friction advantageously forms an area contact between the gr pping elements and the tube, distributing the gripping load and affording a secure grip to the tube as it is rotated.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a spindle 1t) of the yarn collecting section of a conventional ring twister is illustrated. The spindle includes a whorl 12 engageable with a driving belt (not illustrated) for rotating the spindle, a blade 14, and a flange or step 16 which limits the downward movement and serves as a seat for a yarn collecting tube 18. Yarn collecting tubes of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 commonly are manufactured of paper or other soft materials and during prolonged use may tend to become eccentric and unbalanced. The present invention is capable of use with tubes having a certain amount of eccentricity. These eccentric tubes can still be slid onto the driving unit of the present invention since the gripping elements which hold the core are drawn inwardly until the unit is rotated. Upon rotation of the unit the elements protrude to seize the tube, locate it concentrically on the spindle and hold it for rotation.

The driving unit of the instant invention, referenced at 20 in FIG. 1, includes a tubular, central body member 22 (see FIG. 6) which has a plurality of apertures 24 punched through its side wall. Although a single driving unit is shown and described herein it will be understood that additional units 20 could be provided at further positions axially along blade 14, if desired. The apertures 24 are seen to be ten in member in the drawing although it will be obvious that any suitable number of such apertures could be provided. However, desirably the apertures are spaced equidistantly around body member 22 consistent with the location of gripping elements yet to be described, all to the end that equally distributed opposing forces will be applied on a yarn tube to centralize the tube on the spindle. As illustrated, the ten apertures are segregated into two sets of five, each set aligned on its own common circle on body member 22. The spacing of the two sets of apertures from each other is arranged to coincide with the arrangement of the gripping elements and their control member, all as will be more fully set forth hereafter.

A pair of end caps 26, 28 are provided, each being press-fitted into an opposite end of body member 22. Each end cap 26, 28 has a respective central bore 30, 32 therethrough, the size of which is only slightly larger than that of the spindle onto which the driving unit is to be mounted. Thus, the unit is mounted on spindle blade 14 by the blade being slipped through the bores 30, 32. Set screws 34, 36 are provided in end caps 26, 28, respectively, to be drawn against blade 14 and fix the unit 20 in position on the blade for rotation therewith.

Viewing particularly FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 it will be observed that the inner end face of each end cap 26, 28 has a plurality of tangential, equiangular, and equidistant grooves 40, 41 respectively therein, each groove dimensioned to receive a spherical gripping element 42, 43, respectively, therein for free rolling movement therealong. While grooves 40, 41 are shown as being offset about 45 from a line radial to the longitudinal axis of the respective caps, this specific construction is not considered limiting. Equally successful results have been attained with the present invention where the angularity of the grooves 40, 41 has varied from this specific tangency. However, in order that the load on the tube from elements 42, 43 may be distributed equally, the angularity of all of the grooves in each end piece should be the same. While the gripping segments shown and described are spherical, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the segments may be of various other configurations capable of movement along grooves 40, 41.

Referring to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the interior ends of end caps 26, 28 terminate apart from eachother to afford a cavity therebetween. A control ring 44 is disposed in the cavity between end caps 26, 28 for free rotation about blade 14. To this end control ring 44 has a bore therethrough at 46, this bore being sufiiciently oversized to admit blade 14 loosely therethrough. Furthermore, the outside diameter of ring 44 is slightly reduced in order that clearance will exist between the ring and the internal diameter of body member 22. Additionally, some clearance is afforded between the end walls of ring 44 and the end faces of end caps 26, 28. Hence, it will be evident from the foregoing that control ring 44 is essentially free of frictional restriction from the end caps 26, 28 and body member 22.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3 the opposite end walls of control ring 44, as illustrated, have a plurality of tangential, equiangular and equidistant grooves 48, 49 therein. These latter grooves 48, 49 correspond in number, and thus in spacing, to opposing grooves 40, 41, respectively. Similarly, the grooves, as shown, 48, 49, have the same angularity as their associated grooves 40, 41. However, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 it is important to note that the tangent line of groove 48 intersects that of groove 40 and, likewise, groove 49 intersects groove 41. Thus, the grooves 48, 49 of member 44 incline oppositely to their related grooves 40, 41. Furthermore, as is apparent in FIGS. 26, the several apertures 24 are aligned to open into the mouths of the mating grooves 40, 48 and 41, 49, these months being formed when the outer ends of the grooves in the end caps and control ring are in alignment.

The gripping means of the present invention have already been described as a plurality of spherical gripping elements 42, 43. Each element 42 is retained in the track provided by cooperative grooves 40, 48. In like fashion, elements 43 are seated in cooperative grooves 41, 49. A resilient sleeve 50 of a material such as rubber having a high coefiicient of friction is engaged around the outside diameter of body member 22 in the plane of overlie apertures 24 and has, as one of its purposes to prevent escape of elements 42, 43 through apertures 24. As best shown in FIG. 5, sleeve 50 is deformable under the outward pressure of gripping elements 42, 43 to bear against the interior wall of yarn tube 18. Hence, quite advantageously, as the elements 42, 43 are thrust outwardly from a retracted position (FIG. 4) to a gripping position (FIG. 5), they carry sleeve 50 into contact with tube 18. This affords an area contact between the unit 10 and tube 18 at each gripping zone. By virtue thereof the load is distributed on the tube and the tube is securely held for rotation.

In operation, the several gripping elements 42, 43 are responsive to centrifugal force developed when spindle 10 is rotated, to be thrown radially outward, guided by the tangential grooves. In consequence thereof, control ring 44 is pulled around the axis of blade 14 for a part of a revolution, the elements riding further outwardly until the outer ends or months of the respective grooves 40, 48 and 41, 49 are aligned (See FIG. 5) at which time the elements thrust radially and partially through apertures 24 to expand sleeve 50 to grip the interior wall of tube 18, see FIGS. 5 and 8. In view of the fact that sleeve 50 is deformable the sleeve affords an area contact with the internal tube wall. Furthermore, since sleeve 50 has a high coefiicient of friction the tube 18 is held securely to spindle 10 for rotation therewith. Because control ring 44 is dimensioned to move freely without significant retarding force exerted thereagainst, the unit is highly responsive to grip the tube almost immediately upon commencement of rotation of spindle 10. Moreover, due to the fact that the various gripping elements 42, 43 are controlled by a common means, control ring 44, all the elements must move simultaneously and, thus, a biasing force equally distributed at Opposing portions of the tube. This uniformity of movement positions the tube concentrically with the spindle and prevents imbalance from developing as the core is rotated. No element may move independent of the remaining elements since movement of any element must generate rotation of control ring 44, in consequence of which all other elements must also move. Therefore, lateral shifting of the tube leading to an imbalanced condition during rotation is foreclosed.

Up to this point, the description of the invention has been confined to a yarn tube driving means in which all of the grooves, i.e., grooves 40, 41, 48 and 49 are tangential to the major axis of the unit 10. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the several grooves may be arranged in other ways to guide the gripping elements simultaneously to seize the yarn tube.

To this end there is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 two such modifications. These views may be considered to correspond generally to the sectional view of FIG. 5. That is to say, each represents a fragmentary section of the driving unit only, it being understood that each complete unit would include several such grooves and elements in radial symmetry around the circumference of the unit.

In the modification of FIG. 9 each of the grooves 41 of end cap 28 is radial to the major axis of the unit 10. Yet, each of the corresponding grooves 49' of control ring 44 is tangent to said axis. The tangency of the groove 49' may be any angle wherein the axis of said groove 49' intersects with that of groove 41' at an acute angle. It will be appreciated that in this modification the further grooves of the unit all would be arranged similarly to those illustrated, in order that the gripping elements 43 seated in the grooves may be shifted outwardly simultaneously through apertures 24 at a uniform rate to exert pressure on sleeve 50 and cause this sleeve to seize tube 18 as the unit is rotated.

In the modification of FIG. 10 the grooves 41" of end cap 28 are seen to be tangent to the long axis of the driving unit whereas the groove 49" of control ring 44 are situated radially to said axis. Thus, as the unit is rotated elements 43 are thrust outwardly by centrifugal force causing them to protrude through apertures 24 and bear against sleeve 50, pushing this sleeve against tube 18.

It will be apparent that in operation with either of the modifications of FIGS. 9 or 10, as with the embodiment firstly described and shown in FIGS. l8, all of the gripping elements are moved outwardly simultaneously and at a uniform rate to grip the yarn tube. By virtue of the advantageous arrangement where at least one of the grooves guiding each element is tangential, the gripping elements are all controlled for simultaneous movement.

Thus, it is apparent that the foregoing invention provides a driving means wherein equal driving force is exerted simultaneously against opposing sections of the interior wall of tube 18. This force is exerted to grip the tube promptly upon rotation of the spindle 10, which said force is constantly applied over opposing areas throughout the rotational period of the spindle. Since this holding force of gripping elements is balanced, i.e., it is applied equally to opposing portions of the tube, the tube is maintained in a position concentric to the axis of spindle 10 (see FIG. 7) even though it may have been donned in an eccentric location on the spindle (see FIG. 6). The uniform movement and engagement of the various gripping elements to centralize the tube on the spindle sets the tube in a balanced position during rotation, thereby obviating undesirable vibrations which would arise when the tube is rotated in an unbalanced condition.

A further feature of the invention resides in the fact that upon cessation of rotation of the spindle the several gripping elements no longer have any outward biasing force and, therefore, automatically relieve their gripping pressure on tube 18. Elastic sleeve 50 serves as a means for urging the gripping elements inwardly and for containing these elements within their respective grooves when the unit is not surrounded by a tube.

Since certain changes maybe made in the instant invention without departing [from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A driving unit adapted to be mounted on a rotatable textile spindle for driving a yarn t-ube, comprising, a plurality of gripping elements, guide means adapted to be secured to said spindle and receiving said elements for movement of the elements between a retracted position and a position in gripping engagement with the yarn tube, means including a control ring providing positive uniform positioning of said elements in the gripping position responsive to centrifugal force exerted by rotation of said spindle for accurately centering the yarn tube on the spindle, and a deformable member interposed between said gripping elements and said tube, said deformable member being urged outwardly, for gripping engagement with said tube, in response to outward movement of said elements.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a first groove for each said element.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said control ring includes a second groove for each said element, said grooves cooperating for guiding said elements outward simultaneously to urge said deformable member into engagement with said tube.

4. A driving unit adapted to be mounted on a rotatable textile spindle for driving a yarn tube comprising, a centerless body member having apertures therein, first and second end caps having inner ends engaged in said body member, said end caps having aligned bores therethrough to receive said spindle, the inner ends of said end caps being spaced from each other, at least the inner end of said first end cap having first grooves therein, outer ends of said grooves being generally radially aligned with said aperture, means for securing the end caps to said spindle, a control ring disposed interiorly of said body member and positioned between the inner ends of said first and second end caps for free rotation around the axis of said spindle, a plurality of movable gripping elements disposed between said control ring and at least the inner end of said first end cap, said gripping elements being engaged in said grooves, and means on said control ring for providing uniform positioning of said elements outward of said groove ends to protrude through said apertures for gripping said tube in response to centrifugal force exerted by rotation of said spindle.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means on said control ring includes second grooves receiving said elements cooperatively with said first grooves for move ment of said elements outward simultaneously.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first grooves are disposed tangentially to the axis of said spindle, and said second grooves are disposed radially to the axis of the spindle.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first grooves are disposed radially to the axis of saidspindle, and said second grooves are disposed tangentially to the axis of said spindle.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said grooves are disposed tangentially to the axis of said spindle, said first and second grooves being oppositely inclined to have intersecting axes.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including a deformable member enclosing said apertures, said deformable member being moved into engagement with said tube in response to outward movement of said elements.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the inner end of said second end cap has grooves therein, a plurality of second gripping elements are disposed between said control ring and the inner end of said second end 7 8 cap, said second gripping elements being engaged in the References Cited grooves of said second member, and means on said con- UNITED STATES PATENTS trol rin providing uniform positioning of the last said gripping elements in the gripping position and simul- 266802O 2/1954 Dunlap 242462 taneous positioning of all said gripping elements. 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the 13,72,400 8/1964 France last said means on said control ring includes grooves receiving said second gripping elements. STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DRIVING UNIT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A ROTATABLE TEXTILE SPINDLE FOR DRIVING A YARN TUBE, COMPRISING, A PLURALITY OF GRIPPING ELEMENTS, GUIDE MEANS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO SAID SPINDLE AND RECEIVING SAID ELEMENTS FOR MOVEMENT OF THE ELEMENTS BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION AND A POSITION IN GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE YARN TUBE, MEANS INCLUDING A CONTROL RING PROVIDING POSITIVE UNIFORM POSITIONING OF SAID ELEMENTS IN THE GRIPPING POSITION RESPONSIVE TO CENTRIFUGAL FORCE EXERTED BY ROTATION OF SAID SPINDLE FOR ACCURATELY CENTERING THE YARN TUBE ON THE SPINDLE, AND A DEFORMABLE MEMBER INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS AND SAID TUBE, SAID DEFORMABLE MEMBER BEING URGED OUTWARDLY, FOR GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TUBE, IN RESPONSE TO OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ELEMENTS. 